Absurd Things That Have Happened To Me During My Book Blogging Reign

A book blogger’s life is, on occasion, sprinkled with the oddest of happenings.

This is the internet after all. This is where all the oddballs conglomerate. (Yes, I’m looking at you, but before you get all defensive I AM HERE TOO.) Honestly some absurd things have happened to me in 5 years of blogging and it is definitely time I compiled them in a post of Absurd Absurdities. Life is not all logical pinecones and sensible cupcakes! Although it should be. I think we should strive for a cake-orientated society. #priorities

I’VE BEEN ASKED TO PROMOTE A MATTRESS. You know those annoying emails you get from people who’ve only been on your blog solely to find your contact details, and they spout emails like “promote my company”???? I GET THOSE A LOT. It’s entirely irritating because why would I use my blog which I alone have worked hard on to promote their stuff for exactly no benefit to me???? Please explain. BUT MOVING FORWARD. I was once asked to blog about their mattress company. Their reasoning was “there’s no better place to read then in bed”. I won’t argue. It is true. I asked if they were sending me a bed to promote? They did not email back.

I’VE HAD THE MOST POLITE SPAM.Spam comments are actually hilarious. I sometimes get ones that are like: “Your blog is an inspiration to me never stop your genius and check out my random sketchy car insurance website” INSERT WEIRD LINK HERE. But, I mean, I’ll take the compliment. Thank you.

THE RUSSIANS LOVED ME. Back when I was on blogger, most of my pageviews came from Russia. Whyyyyy? Why did the Russians find my blog so interesting??? I mean, I’m not knocking pageviews BUT IT’S VERY ODD. (Apparently the Russians despise WordPress because we are no longer friends.)

PEOPLE HAVE INTRODUCED THEMSELVES BY TELL ME I’M WRONG. No, really. I’ve gotten messages that are like “Hi I hope this isn’t offensive, but your posts have so many typos”. Or “hello for the first time I like your content but your blogging voice is so irritating.” Well, mate, firstly (A) hello to you too for the first time, you’ve made a grand impression, and (B) go awaaaaay if you don’t like me, and (C) typos don’t actually kill anyone! I don’t care if I have typos! I try to correct them, but I miss some! I am the Typo Queen! (Seriously though, just ask my critique partners and my agent…the first thing they always says is “Well, Cait…typos…” even though I scour that darn manuscript, gah.) If you’re going to say hello to me FOR THE FIRST TIME don’t let it be “and now let me list your faults”.

I’VE BEEN TOLD TO RE-READ A BOOK BECAUSE I “READ IT WRONG”. Hahahhahaha…this is honestly absurd. Which makes it, at least, kind of hilarious. How can you read a book wrong!??? Why would I re-read a book I hated? WHO WOULD DO THAT?

I STARTED OFF AS A TRAVEL BLOGGER. Can we just take a moment to snort together? Because meeeeee???? I hate travel. Why go outside when you can read about it. The only thing that you should experience instead of reading about is — cake.

I ORIGINALLY DNF’ED THE RAVEN BOYS. Now hooooold on and let me explain. If you’ve been here for any length of time (aka: two minutes, probably) then you know that I am a rabid Maggie Stiefvater fan. AND that The Raven Cycle is the #1 series of my soul right now. But back when it first came out — I read one page and sent it back to the library. I AM ASHAMED OF MY 2013-SELF TOO OMG. But to be fair, during that time I (A) only read dystopian really, and (B) was more interested in writing than reading which is absurd because they NEED to go together, and (C) I just ran out of time to even properly try it. WE ALL HAVE OUR DARK PASTS OKAY???? Least to say OBVIOUSLY I tried The Raven Cycle again and my love for it stretches across nine galaxies and shines brighter than an orange Camaro. (Of which I want one, by the way. I can’t even drive a manual car but pfft.)

I’VE WANTED TO QUIT BLOGGING. Don’t we all go through this? I’m sure we do. I’m not immune to the overwhelm and uninspiring zucchini gloop that we book bloggers occasionally turn into. I’ve put this down on the “absurd” list because, seriously??? BLOGGING IS MY LIFE. I spend so much time blogging. What would I do without it???? Go outdoors? Socialise?? ugh.

I’VE BEEN TOLD I HAVE NO RIGHT TO HAVE AN OPINION. Yup. For real. A human bean has honestly said this to me on Goodreads. (Honestly, just hang out on Goodreads for a while if you want to catch a few trolls.) But because I reviewed a book about a minority group that I was not part of that meant my review was wrong and void. And I just…seriously???? Everyone is entitled to an opinion. I think what I want. (I AM ACTUALLY LOKI.) It always surprises me when people are too immature to realise WE DON’T AND WON’T ALL AGREE.

I PLAGIARISED A POST…FROM MYSELF.Yes. I literally have to search my OWN ARCHIVES before I blog now because I literally wrote a post TWICE. I’d written it originally in 2014, forgotten, and then wrote a new version. After a strong sense of deja vu…turns out I’d done it before. I’m so embarrassed of me sometimes.

MY BOOKSHELF USED TO LOOK LIKE THIS. I mean, that’s just absurdly hilarious, okay??? How did I ever have so little books in 2014??! It looks so so ridiculous.

I mean look, THANKFULLY I FIXED IT.

MIXING-UP BLOGGERS’ NAMES. And therefore grandly embarrassing myself. This has happened…several times. I wrote a mammothly enthusiastic comment to someone who I thought I knew only publish the comment and realise — NO THEY JUST HAVE THE SAME NAME AS MY FRIEND BUT ARE NOT MY FRIEND. Excuse me, I am dead. To be fair though, it’d be easier if none of you shared names. Work on that, yes please?

WHEN PEOPLE ASSUME I LAZE AROUND ALL DAY READING. I had to tell myself this is absurd, so I don’t get annoyed. I read fast, okay?! I don’t watch TV or movies = I read. I don’t really, erm, go out with friends = I read. I read a lot of 300-page books which you can easily knock over in an evening! I AM AN ANXIOUS ANTISOCIAL HERMIT CRAB WHO WORKS FROM HOME AND USES FREE TIME WISELY TO READ MUCHLY. But it doesn’t mean my life is holiday mode! Don’t judge, you frond. An unbelievable amount of people have indicated that I must live a truly lazy/easy life if I read so much. Just no.

I THOUGHT PEOPLE WITH A GAZILLION FOLLOWERS WERE IN LEAGUE WITH THE DARKNESS. Honestly this could still be true. But once I passed several thousand followers I realised that (A) big bloggers are just book loving dorks too, and (B) they probably have not sold their soul to the darkness but are just very good at convincing people they’re fabulous. Those people with “big blogs” really aren’t that scary! I mean, except for me. I’m nefariously terrifying, so don’t go getting comfortable and thinking I’m a cuddly popsicle. I AM FIRE. I AM DEATH. Generally. I have a schedule for evil. Fridays to Mondays, 6am to 11am so I can knock off for lunch. #priorities

time to share the most absurd moments you’ve had while book blogging!! let us compare the oddness levels!! have you experienced any of mine too?!?

Comments

Some of these were hilarious, Cait! Yay for blogging and all it’s weirdness. I’m not like you in terms of spending huge amounts of time blogging (maybe four hours a week) but I don’t mind. I haven’t had that many weird things, except some spammer once commented in Veitnamese on a post from months ago (google translate told me they were advertising) I do have to check if I’m plagirising myself sometimes, or see if shar has done it. But book blogging is mostly 100% awesome-it’s what convinced me to write a novel!

Ahh, blogging is FUN.😂 And full of goldenly ridiculous moments honestly, omg. And on those spammers though…I get plenty in Chinese characters but like even the ones in English hardly make sense sometimes. SPAM. GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER. The complimenting ones do make me laugh though.😂

Omg, yes! When I co-blogged with my sister, we had to check that we weren’t writing the same posts.

(Ahhh YAY for being convinced to be a writer! THAT IS THE BEST, HONESTLY)

A mattress company?? Excuse while I go die of laughter. XD
Ohmygosh I’m on blogger and I get tons of views from Russia! (Go Russia!) Sometimes I wonder how on earth they find my blog. Anyway, there are always going to people you tell you that your opinion doesn’t matter, but it does. It sucks that some people go around saying that. Everyone’s opinion matters! 😀

I KNOW RIGHT?!? It’s a pity they didn’t send me a new bed…I mean. That would’ve been fun.😂 AND OMG WHAT IS IT WITH RUSSIA?!? I mean, I love the Russians (thank you for the pageviews, kind Russians) but it makes me curious….😂😂
And yes, pfft, those people who don’t understand that not everyone is going to agree just aren’t worth it.

I discovered that Rain is actually used as a name and was promptly irritated with life, the universe and everything. So I did TRY to pick a name that would be unique to my blog (mainly because my real name is SUPER common), it just didn’t work out like that… 🙁
You’ve been told you have no right to have an opinion? Seriously?! I’m going to assume you didn’t like the book? I have a self-imposed, occasionally broken rule to never give classics ratings because I (probably naively) think that this will help me to avoid trolls. Apparently, it won’t.
Nothing weird has happened to me yet. Probably because I haven’t been blogging for very long. 😉

My name is super common too, gah, so I hear your pain. (Although Rain isn’t THAT common on the blogosphere at least, right?! I haven’t meet another blogger named Rain except you!)

And OMG I KNOW RIGHT?! Like why are people that ridiculous that they think everyone should agree??? And the way people get so defensive over books is ridiculous. I just rate things whatever I want now and don’t even answer to the trolls.😂

*pauses eating cookie with hand half raised to mouth* …. Cait…did not like…A STIEFVATER BOOK. 😳 Haha the secret is out! Bet you’re glad you eventually reread it! (I’ll tell you a secret, I used to hate reading full stop *gasps from mortally wounding self*).

And gosh darn it Cait, why can’t you be perfect? I expect no typos ever from now on. 😂😂😂 pretty sure I live for typos – my favourite is when it makes sense but completely changes what you were saying. It feels like the typo was just sitting there going: shh if I’m quiet she won’t notice and I can derail this sentence so bad it’ll sink to the bottom of the ocean made out of the happy tears of people hysterically laughing.

YEAH I KNOW. IT’S A SHOCK. I think it was because the second chapter was Gansey and the Pig broken down and I was like “Woah I don’t read about cars”. Tbh I AM ASHAMED OF MYSELF. It’s kind of hilarious that was my first impression when the series is like my #1 of my entire life now.😂

TYPO QUEEN, EXCUSE YOU. Or should I say Tpyo Qeune? That works. That suits me. :’)

The request to promote that mattress company is so absurd but Cait you HAD TO if they indeed send you the bed to promote, that would be awesome! Hahaha 😛 I’ve personally been asked to promote a face oil company and they did it by commenting on my bookstagram, that’s so weird!!? also, I think it’s rude for people to point out your flaws right after they say hello… I mean, there’s a polite way to voice a different opinion and it’s definitely not after you say hi! and I started my blog as a diary! But then I thought unless I’m a really famous person, people wouldn’t care about what I wrote :’) so I slowly shift my focus on my love for books and I love doing it!

And I’m happy to say that I finally read The Raven Cycle BECAUSE OF YOU. It’s literally EVERYWHERE on your blog and twitter and instagram and I finally succumbed to the pressure. I LOVED IT <3 I'm confused most of the time but these books literally make me THINK! I'm so curious I'm binge reading the first three books in 4 days! I'm starting The Raven King soon and I can't wait to find out what happens. I totally blame you for this….

Being sent a bed WOULD’VE BEEN REALLY COOL.😂 I just hope the email at least pointed out how stupid is to ask people to promote stuff for free…like wut even, companies?!? Get it together.😂 Face oil?? Bahahah.

And YES! I think it’s okay to like discuss and disagree, but not on your FIRST comment! It’s like a stranger walking up to you and saying your hair is weird or something. JUST DON’T DO IT, PEOPLES.😂

Book blogging is honestly the best though, right?! *hi fives* I’m glad we both changed hehe.

I’M SO GLAD THAT YOU LIKE THE RAVEN CYCLE, BECAUSE IT IS HONESTLY THE BEST SERIES OF MY ENTIRE LIFE. *shrieks* I cannot love those darling cinnamon roll boys enough. Ronan tho. <333 I accept all blame quite happily.

I am the Typo Queen! You may not have my crown. Ha ha. Getting a new mattress would have been stellar! All I get are Erotica authors asking me to BUY and review their books in messages on my Facebook blog page. First of all, Erotica, ewww, and secondary, they also want me to buy it? There is the one you already know about (I think) where I was told my blog suffered from personality leakage. Heh. And then the time I was a brand new baby blogger and I entered a lot of ARC giveaways and I noticed that this big BIG name blogger never posted the winner on her Rafflecopters and I never saw anyone tweet a thank you that they had won, except twice and both.times it was her best blogging buddy *raises eyebrow*, so I left a comment and very politely asked her where she posted her winners. Her posts were moderated so it didn’t publish, but the next day I got a viciously angry email calling me a racist! She said I never would have asked her that if she were white! She told me to never ask her that again, and said never to enter one of her giveaways again because if the Rafflecopter did pick me she would disqualify me. Ha! Of course being a newbie I almost quit blogging because I was horrified that anyone would think I was racisit. I kind of laugh about it now. Most of my readers are from Canada, which is weird, too, because I am in the US, but I guess it makes more sense than Russia, ha ha. You know though… maybe they can only read and not comment because we noticed on MyLeaky that Russia was one of the only countries that there were no members from. That was a really awkward sentence and I don’t how to fix it. XD

And omg that’s even worse, ew, with the erotic authors. And personality leakage?!? WHAT IS WRONG WITH SOME PEOPLE OMG. I’ve been told I’m super irritating and my blogging voice needs to change. It was during an anonymous survey, but seriously? Like why are people reading our blogs if they hate our voices? Go awwaaaay haters. *shoos them*

Woah, that blogger had SERIOUS problems. But omg, that is like the worst experience. (I’m glad you didn’t quit tho!) And I’m glad we can laugh now, right?! At the time it’s always really terrible though. Bleh.

I actually don’t have many odd moments or stuff, but I have like odd booky moments, like going to Savers yesterday and finding all three Hunger Games hardback brandnew, two harry potters (one hardback) the Maze Runner, and another book ALL FOR SIXTEEN DOLLARS!

I’ve only been book blogging since May (so I don’t really have many absurd stories to share – although maybe you could use the billions of blogs I had before this one as something absurd?) Anyway, I do relate to the bookshelf situation! When I think about the amount of books I had in January and right now it’s just… Hilarious! (Although my bookshelf is still a joke, I mean, there are still empty shelves!)

Also, I publish my blog reviews to Goodreads after I’ve published them on the blogs, and this once I was doing that for book three of a trilogy, and I found out that my review for book two was on the Goodreads page of book three and book two didn’t have its review on Goodreads… LOL!

You still have empty shelves? LUCKY. 😂 I even absconded with my sister’s shelves and just…nope. Not enough room. (I mean, I could stop collecting books but nooooo.)

Ohhh, getting messed up with goodreads reviews would be awkward! I always review on goodreads FIRST and then review on my blog.🙈🙊 Which is like the weirdest way to do it, right?!? IDEK WHAT I’M DOING HALF THE TIME.😂

I TOTALLY RELATE WITH THE RUSSIA THING. I get an absurd number of ‘people’ visiting from Russia, and I’m always like o_O ????
But I think one of the more absurd things is replying to a Tweet, months after it was tweeted xD My Twitter app doesn’t update very well…so I clicked reply to a Tweet one day…and right after I send the reply, I realise the Tweet was from like 2 months ago…oh well!
But wow, so many weird things have happened to your during your time o_O Especially that mattress company thing hahahaha :’)

That mattress thing is RIDICULOUS. Whaaaa? That’s worse than the review requests I get for books that I would have no interest in. I mean, look, I review YA and NA! Do I look like the best candidate to review your children’s book on God’s creatures? Or your textbook on taxidermy? Yeah no.

Also, I, too, have considered quitting blogging, especially since I’m about to start a masters degree in something not exactly bookish. But the thought of giving up something that has become such a big part of me and is the only place I can really be myself is just OFHO:EWHF OWEIH NO. I can’t do it. It would be like giving up air or Coke Zero or chocolate chip cookies. Not happening!

Last note, on those typos. I got the most ridiculous email the other day from the copy-editor of a book I read and reviewed a few months ago. I liked the book overall, but I said that the beginning was rushed and didn’t make a lot of sense, and that there were quite a few errors (in a finished copy). Now, this book was from a small publisher, which might explain why this guy thought it would be ok to email me to tell me:
1) The beginning was NOT rushed and nonsensical.
2) Where I’d pointed out the use of the wrong word (weary vs. wary), I was WRONG (I got a couple people to double-check after I saw his email, and he was still in the wrong)
3) Oh, by the way, you have a typo in your blog post.
I was SO MAD. I’ve calmed down now, but SOOOO MAD. Typos in anything haven’t killed anyone, but it’s more ok for blog posts on personal book blogs where you don’t have proofreaders at hand to have them. Books can have a few errors, but since you have multiple rounds with editors and proofreaders, there should be fewer! I let them email slide after writing (but not sending) and email to the publisher and author. Needless to say, though, that I don’t think I’ll be reading the second book in the series because this guy has completely put me off!
/rant over

BAHAHAHHAH TO THOSE REVIEW REQUESTS.😂 I used to get a TON of them too until I 100% closed for review requests. Omg but worst are the review requests that are like “So I know you said you don’t take requests…but I wanted to tell you about my book anyway”. can you not READ, MATE?!? It’s just an insta-denial when they don’t even read your closed signs. Gah. HUMANS.😂

Nooo don’t quit blogging! BLOGGING IS THE BEST!! Although I totally get how hard it’d be if you’re super busy. But like how can one give up chocolate chip cookies or blogging? It’s just not done, definitely.

OMG WAS THAT GUY FOR REAL?!?! That’s definitely absurd. And yes, definitely for sure typos in books are different to typos in blog posts! Like that dude needed to stop and chill. I don’t blame you for skipping all books by that company/person after that. That’s a terrible experience! It makes me so mad when people think that they can blast people online. WE’RE ALL STILL PEOPLE BEHIND THE COMPUTER SCREENS OMG!!

I started my blog as a personal style blog (hence, the name) but quickly discovered I have WAY more interest in (and more to say about) books. I kept the name though, lol.
I used to think people who read 100+ books in a year were witches. Then, I discovered digital audiobooks, stopped watching so much TV, and started actually keeping track of all my reading. I read 475 books (including picture books and short stories) in 2015! Does that make me a witch?!?
I used to cohost a linkup where we would post outfits inspired by books. On the very first round of posts, a (then) friend of my cohost linked an ESSAY on To Kill a Mockingbird, including photos of herself in a B&W striped jumpsuit. I politely read the WHOLE thing and responded to what she’d written in the comments. MONTHS later, on a different linked post, she accused me of being a bad host because I didn’t comment on her outfit. Then, she proceeded to break all ties with my cohost! I felt terrible, like I’d ruined their friendship. Now I realize she was probably mentally unstable.

That makes sense!! I’m really glad we both changed to books tho, because BOOKS. Clearly the best topic there is. :’)

OMGGGG YOU READ NEARLY 500 BOOKS?!?!? Yes. I hate to break it to you, but there’s definitley some black wizardry going on there.😂 (HAHAH I’m just kidding. That really is so amazing! My record is 320 I think.😂)

Omg, some people are honestly ridiculous online though. That sounds super unreasonable of that person, gah.

YES STILL ALIVE. (Or else this is a ghost blogging? YOU NEVER CAN TELL.) And omg aren’t some people just the worst though?!😂 I’m glad I can laugh about it. Last year was horrible for trolls, but this year I just ignore them and don’t even care. Life is too short to get tied in knots by immature people, tbh.
Spam is sometimes the best omg.😂 It’s hilarious!!

This was wonderfully cute! (I am interrupting this comment to say that I just wiped the black diagonal line that is present in your background maybe 10 times before I realized it was not a stray hair. Anyway…) It’s so fun to see how things have changed in such a short amount of time (your bookshelves for example!). 😀

Omg sorry about that black line thingy.😂 It’s part of the template. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY. I thought my computer screen was cracked one time so you’re not alone hahah. Ahem.
Ahhh YES! I actually have been taking photos of my shelves over the past few years to just catalogue how they change.😂

Your post always interesting and made me smile Cait 🙂 thank you 🙂 I was once thinking quit blogging too. Thank you for sharing. I am not alone then. Btw, mixing blogger names is so me. Hahaha i am mixing friends on goodreads too. I was once asked (forced). people to be my friend in goodreads because they have same name with my friends, to find out later that they have same name but actually different people. Hahaha

Whoaaa there are people who think you are laze around? Gasp! How could they? I feel sorry for you. Or may be they are jealous because they can’t read lots of books like you.

Aww, I AM SO GLAD ABOUT THAT!! *flails happily* And I do think we all go through the feeling-like-quitting stage! I’m definitely glad I never caved to it, though, because blogging is my LIFE.😂 I’d be so lonely without all my bookish friends! <3

I'm sure people who make snide comments like that are just jealous...or having a really bad day. Never an excuse though! But, bah, I just laugh at them now. 😂

I’ve been blogging for 3 years, so I’ve had a few interesting things happen. First, I also had a mattress company contact me. They sent me emails and left comments with sketchy links on my blog. Second, a dude told me to take down one of my reviews because “It made homosexuality seem normal.” Third, I had a self-published author offer me $5 to write a 5-star review of his book. I didn’t promote the mattress, take down the review, or accept the money.

I feel related to russians too.. My second biggest viewer (after indonesians) are from Russia and I still don’t understand how they found and read my blog (most my blog post is written in indonesian). My hypothesis are Maybe they look for the images then land into my blog or they are Indonesia people who currently live in russia or i dont know. Haha

That mattress company is so funny😂😂😂 And they also give a really smart answer why you should promote them 😂 Blogging also changed my book collection for the better, (but worse for my wallet) because I discover so many new books! I also quit blogging twice before finally decided to blog for real😂

Ahhhhhh so many of these ring a bell with me . . . the plagiarizing my own post, rabid fight against socializing with EW HUMANS ICK ICK TURN IT OFF, and the sweet spam messages. One time someone was like “dude you’re so pretty oh purchase more followers” and I’m like thanks for the first part MARK AS SPAM. I’m sure I’ve had many more interesting things happen to me but, unlike you, I cannot remember these things. HOW DO YOU DO IT??? Whenever I try to make lists I stop at about three and then sit at my keyboard like an awkward spork and just tap aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaabbbbbbbbbbbbbcccccccc I CAN’T THINK OF ANYTHING HELP ME. This is a super good blog post idea . . . if I do it I’ll make sure to link back to you. GREAT POST!

I DON’T EVEN KNOW HOW I REMEMBERED THESE.😂 Usually my brain is swiss cheese, but these stuck out to me for some reason! hehe. But omg it’s nice when the spam comments are compliment though. I mean, I still spam them because SKETCHY but I’m not knocking a nice compliment even if the grammar/English is dubious.😂

MUAHAHAHA THOSE WERE HILARIOUS. Haha, a mattress company?? That’s like really cool — and also not because WHY DID THEY NOT SEND THE BED. Also Russia? That’s like one of the really cool parts about blogging I think. People you’ve never met and all over the world can see your work. (that also could be a bit scary i suppose too.)
AND THE SPAM YESSSS That is so true. People come up with the strangest/craziest/weirdest “polite” spam. Like how do they even come up with that.

I red books super fast as well.
My mom will say something like ‘oh Hannah this one is good’ I’ll grab it and go read. Fast forward to the next morning and I hand it back to her and she still doesn’t believe that I get anything out of the book. PEOPLE ARE SO JUDGEMENTAL about fast readers. She actually once asked me all the reader diccusion questions…….

HOW COULD YOU NOT LIKE STEIFVATER BOOKS!? It’s truly shocking considering.

And how could you be told your opinion was wrong? O.o What’s the point of being unique if everyone thinks the same?

I don’t think I’ve had absurdly weird things happen on my blog? I think the most annoying was I had my review of ACOMAF reposted on a different blog that was later shut down? I was like, “ummm… excuse me?” I only know because they linked back to me but it was my entire review and I was like, “what do I do?” But then the site was gone a couple days later.

BUT I DID LIKE THE STIEFVATER BOOK.😂 The whole thing was I abandoned it after 1 chapter, and then GOT IT BACK and loved it. <3 I'm so obsessed with the Raven Boys it's ridiculous. I cannot even stop flailing about them omg.

Oh my gosh, I love this post.
And can I just say, I love the way you talk? It’s amazing to read and even though I don’t know how you did, you have a certain voice in my mind which reads your posts for me as I read

I feel like everyone had a slightly ugly bookcase before they started blogging… I just didn’t know about all the pretty books that were out there! Seriously, half my bookshelf was that Warriors series about cats 😂 That Matress one is GOLD!

Ehrmagad so many the absurd moments (and I’ve been blogging for a lot less time than you, our great & powerful Queen!) I think the weirdest thing has to be when authors FOLLOW YOU FIRST – I don’t mean random little authors you’ve never heard of (not that they aren’t great, they are!) I mean people you love and whose books you’ve read & adored. Then they continue to ACTUALLY READ YOUR POSTS AND TWEETS and sometimes you even talk to them a bit (even though you are socially incompetent and tend to make some vital error in every tweet you write – talking ’bout me, not you, no worries.)

Oh, and when you blog about *comics* as well as novels & non-fiction, you are sometimes told that your opinion doesn’t matter because you are a girl, and therefore don’t know what you’re talking about when you say ‘dude – this chick needs more clothes if she wants to fight against people with swords,’ I wish I was kidding.

Luckily, I have recently become an A+ troll hunter (for reasons of homophobic idiots giving me cr*p because of #GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend). They have a tendency of giving up on the conversation if you stay rational and pleasant. So it’s all good – I can deal with the nasty little jerks.

OMG I AGREE: ACTUALLY INTERACTING WITH AUTHORS IS AMAZING AND SURREAL. One of my favourite authors of ever has chatted with me on twitter and we’ve even chatted over DMs and like *DIES OF FANGIRLING* issss this real life omg. And VE Schwab once retweeted me. #stilldead

Omg you’ve been told your opinion doesn’t matter because you’re a girl?! THAT TROLL NEEDS THUMPING INTO THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR. Sexist horrible trolls are the worst. I don’t even respond anymore, so I admire you for giving rational responses! I just end up wanting to yell at people and that’s never a good idea on the internet.😂

Yup. Turns out if you’re a girl then clearly you’re not ‘the target audience’ for *name of comic* and should shut up. Because obv. it’s practical to fight swords while wearing a bikini. In no way does this lead to much pain and death. *sigh*

I am the master troll hunter. They freak out if you smile and refuse to get angry – passive aggression 🙂 It *really* creeps them out if you tell them to have a lovely day 🙂

I always come across a socially incompetent idiot when I start talking to authors. And then I’m like ‘yeah… they’re never gonna talk to me again!’ And somehow they do 🙂 And actually read my posts and randomly ‘like’ when I say things about my cats or how I’m totally not listening to Eurovision songs (*shifty glances*)

UGH TO THOSE TROLLS. And I spend most of my comic reviews (I read a few last year😂) complaining about how sexualised all the superheroine’s costumes were. I AM 10000% BEHIND YOU, AS ANY SENSIBLE AND GOOD PERSON WOULD BE. And omg I love how you treat trolls then! Kill ’em with kindness, right?

Whoa. This post is hilarious! I love the polite spam…I’ve gotten that myself a couple times and it’s very amusing. (By the way, that bookshelf … AAAHHHH! It’s organized by color and it’s sooo beautiful. I love all of the pictures too, I love taking pictures of my books. :D)

Oh my goodness, You have encountered some very strange things. My favorite is definitely the sketchy car insurance company. And the mattress company.

I’ve never had a shady car insurance company email me…but I have had people email me to ask for reviews for their books that didn’t look good at all…I’m talking about self-published covers. 🙁

Other than that, I’ve had my favorite posts not get any comments, and random posts I thought wouldn’t do very good get a boatload of comments.

And I spelled someone’s name wrong in a comment. That was terribly embarrassing.

And I shared some really embarrassing snippets I wrote.

And my friends and I had the genius idea to make a “movie” about a certain blogger who was drawn from her blogging hole by a fake Maddie Stiefvater book signing. (Before it completely lost the plot in a fiery inferno.)

I think those are all of the weird things in my blogging life.

I promise this isn’t a spam comment when I say that your blog is one of my favorites. You have a FANTASTIC voice and actually make book reviews interesting!

Eeep, getting asked to promote ANYTHING is generally sketchy these days. *hides under blog* I also hate it when people think that we want to do this stuff with no benefit to us? Like why???? We are not stupid???😂 *deletes all requests*

Oh I hear you for the getting-comments-on-random-posts-but-not-favourite-posts. ME TOO. Like posts I’ve worked seriously hard on have literally been ignored, and posts I haven’t cared much about have gone huge.😂 WHAT IS IT WITH LIFE.

1) I started as a geek blogger without realizing I don’t cosplay, I just play 1 videogame and I don’t watch Doctor Who and so on.
2) I’ve been asked to review that f***ing mattress too!!!!!
3) I’ve been asked to review underpants with superheroes prints!??? WTF
4) I’ve been asked to review an ARC by an author who didn’t even purchase a domain for her website and had one of the default Blogspot themes.
5) I’ve been asked to review a video maker program from China.

I’m so tired of all these emails! The funniest thing is that I received many nice collaboration requests (subscription boxes, leather goodies from a company that produced props for The Hobbit, etc.) for the blog I run with two friends of mine where we write once or twice a month and we didn’t even have a custom domain, while for my blog (that has much more followers and readers) I just receive rubbish…

OMG THE MATTRESS PEOPLE ARE EVERYWHERE. I have not had the underpants yet, which I’m very pleased about. These people and their ridiculous items to sell. Do they not NOTICE that we blog about books????? What do they want us to do? Read books in our underwear and blog about that??
The blogspot-author I don’t think is too bad actually haha.😂 OMG I FORGOT THIS ONE: But I had a “publicist” do a “follow up” email with me to make sure I was okay to receive and author’s book. And I’m like “I do not know you. You’ve never contacted me before. Who are you.” They didn’t email back.😂

oh my goodness THE RUSSIANS HAVE STALKED ME TOO. It’s so weird that most of my traffic is from Russian people when the actual people who comment and I interact with ARE NOT FROM RUSSIA. I’m thinking that the Russian government is just stalking all book bloggers because books are the key to ruling the world.

Just this week I got an email asking me to review boys underwear. First of all, I am a middle aged single woman with no children (and sadly no cats – ’cause allergic). Secondly, I am a SFF audiobook blogger! I also want to know how they found my info without also finding “the instructions” for submitting a request?

Omg?!? THAT IS SO BIZARRE. I honestly don’t think these people even look at our blogs. So why do they do it?! I DON’T KNOW. Any time an email starts off without my name I know they haven’t even really read my blog, just gone straight to my contact page. *deletes everything*

“I was once asked to blog about their mattress company. Their reasoning was “there’s no better place to read then in bed”. I won’t argue. It is true. I asked if they were sending me a bed to promote? They did not email back.” <– That is beautiful.

Polite spam makes my day. :’) I mean, SURE, you want to steal all my money probably and hack my computer and laugh evilly or whatever spam does (idek by this point) but AT LEAST YOU SAID I WROTE NICELY. Kind spam.

What ARE the Russians doing with our little blogs is the true question, omg. I have questions. COME OUT RUSSIANS. COME OUT COME OUT WHEREVER YOU ARE AND TALK TO US.

And YES. I started the blog because I was going to China for a month and my sister was all “start a blog” and I was all “what the flippity flop is a blog?” and it all started from there.

I KNOW THO RIGHT?!?! My entire life is just freaking out over The Raven Cycle but initially I was like “wut is this”.😂 But to be fair I didn’t read much magical fantasy back then AND I WAS A DELUDED GRAPE. I’m so glad I’ve changed my evil ways omg.

Awww, I’M SO glad you don’t think I’m scary!! <3 I actually have people say I'm scary a lot and I'm like "Why?? I talk about cake and sprinkles and yell at people to read fun books. NOT SCARY". (Or maybe that is scary, tbh. Who can know.)

Why don’t they pay us to do these things?! Every time I get an email like that I email back now and say “are you paying”? Because I AM NOT HERE TO BE FREE ANYWAY. (Not that I would advertise a mattress on my blog for pay anyway. But I WOULD if they sent me a mattress…😂)

I’m really happy to see that you tend to your anxious squirrel army. Do calming things for sure. Also positive affirmation works really well too.

It always makes me laugh how flattering the spam comments are. I got one the other day that was something along the lines of “I found your post ~whatever~ on Writing on a Vintage Typewriter and I can tell you are a beautiful soul.” and then went on about how I should be making money on my blog and gave me a link. I wish I had screenshoted it, actually, because I bet my family would have gotten a kick out of it.

AND SOMEONE ACTUALLY TOLD YOU TO REREAD A BOOK BECAUSE YOU READ IT WRONG? I’m sorry I find that so funny, but, really, someone took time out of there day to tell you this. What book was it? Did you give a book that they thought was a horrible a high rating or the other way around? Because I’ve noticed people tend to be more abusive when you give a book a low rating, even if you give another book a high rating and they don’t agree with it.

Omg a “beautiful soul”? AWWWW. SPAMMY, YOU ARE SO SWEET. :’) 😂 Sometimes it amuses me so much I’m tempted to let them go through hahha. I don’t though. I mean, compliment me all you want, spam, but you’re still DEAD.

I KNOW. Oh I’ve had it happen countless times actually!! Particularly on goodreads. I think once it was for The Bone Season? And I just replied “why would I re-read a book I hated?” And it was me giving the book a low rating! People get SO DEFENSIVE over books it’s kind of ridiculous. It’s a book, peoples. Chill.

Min aren’t nearly as fun as yours but my fave was definitely when I went to a student’s last year and we were supposed to talk about our hobbies and I said: I have a book blog. They looked at me like I’m some alien creature or something especially after I said I prefer to stay and finish my book rather than go out to party that night. There are so many anecdotes really 😀

I’m very new to the blogging stuff so nothing out of the ordinary for me yet, but some of these things are down-right weird. Typos are really nothing to worry about and your blogging voice is awesome- you’re hilarious 😀 Also…I DNFed The raven boys too, and I haven’t gotten around to reading it again (I will soon though).

I dooooo hope you try the Raven Boys again. SECOND TIME IS THE CHARM.😂 I swear I am so obsessed with that series now that I cannot stop blogging about it.😂 My instagram account looks like an ode to The Raven Cycle. #noregrets

How was your bookshelf so naked in 2014?! Also “Reading Wrong?!” That is absurd, I don’t even thing 4 year olds read wrong. You pick up a book, open it, and leave your body in reality. Simple. Also my brother and dad think I am lazy, because I read all the time( they are not reader). My mom however loves that I read and is glad that I cram knowledge in my head (Even if it involves assassins, and the occasional heists). She also likes to hear about the things I read, she has bad eyes and can’t read for hours.

ISN’T IT SAD?!? Back then I basically only libraried books.😂 Most of the books I own now are from publishers or really cheap from library sales (yesss I’m a scrooge) but at least my bookshelves are well fed and healthy. #win
But YES, omg. I don’t understand people who think that everyone must love the same books. That’s just bizarre. When is the universe going to accept that we’re all different?!?
I hate hate hate when people think reading is just a lazy thing too. Grr. So what if we read in our down time?!? It’s good for your brain and enjoyable! (Also that is super nice that your mum loves to hear about your reading. <3)

My bookshelf used to look in the same way and now it is crowded with books. What happened? Ha ha! I used the library a lot more before and almost never bought books. I think I started buying books back in 2008. I had some books before, but not many. Now I have so many books that I have no idea how many I have on my tbr. I don’t dare to count them haha. I love the raven boys, but the book was really slow to me. I started to like it after a while, but had read half the book to get into it. But now I really looooove the series 😀

I was the same! I was like 90% library before book blogging. And like, omg, most of those books I own must be from publishers over the last 3 years.😂 And library sales. BUT STILL. My bookshelf is healthy and well fed omg I love. <3

THE RAVEN BOYS IS MY LIFE. I don't even know why I had to re-start it.😂 Now I've re-read it and ajfdksald I cannot get enough.

Oh, I LOVE your writing voice, Cait (ahem, excuse me, LOKI)! I don’t get people who go to the work of making mean hateful comments. I mean, WHY. WHAT IS THE POINT. How does it make their life better or more fulfilled???

Okay… So I may be guilty of politely insinuating to family members who read certain books or watched certain movies and came away WITH DRASICALLY NUTTY PERCEPTIONS (aka negative and different than mine) that they MIGHT ACTUALLY HAVE READ/WATCHED IT WRONG AND ARE PERHAPS A BOILED CABBAGE (all very politely, of course). imho. BUT IN MY DEFENSE, I don’t use my queenly authority to order them imperiously to reread/rewatch it. Because all the more for me, obviously. And why waste such a treasure on a poor unappreciative cabbage, anyway?

So if you’re not allowed to have an opinion on a book about a minority you are not a part of, does that mean members of the minority are not allowed to have opinions on books about the majority that THEY DON’T BELONG TO?!?! How far into life should we carry this theory? VOTING BECOMES A DISASTER. RIGHTS ARE NOW A HOPELESS CONFUSION. I still can’t get over this one….

Loved this post, Loki! Thanks for sharing YOUR DARK SIDE with us. On the internet, we’re all secretly evil, which means we can be evil together. #evillaugh (that’s the villain equivalent of a sympathetic hug) I’m glad you DIDN’T quit or listen to the haters, because I LOVE YOUR BLOG AND YOUR VOICE! Keep rocking on and taking over the world!
~ Kat

THANKYOU. FINALLY SOMEONE UNDERSTANDS MY TRUE TITLE. I also answer to Queen and World Ruler, if you’re curious.

But omg, totally agree. Hate comments are bizarre and accomplish nothing. Like sure, if someone comes and bawls me out for hating their favourite book, what do they think is going to happen??? Me suddenly liking the book?? HHAAHAH NO. I actually have hated books MORE when I have negative feelings attached to them!! But I mean, family doesn’t count for this. It is our duty in our family to tell them they are boiled cabbage if they don’t appreciate a fandom enough. (Actually my sister refuses to read my favourite books because if she doesn’t like them, I suppose she’s afraid of murder??? DON’T KNOW WHY.)

Omg, everything is confusing when people try to police what we can and cannot have opinions on.😂

Hey before I finish reading the rest of this post I was wondering if you could please, please, please promote my flying mattress that is shaped like a birthday cake? Not any ordinary birthday cake though, pal, this is the type of birthday cake strippers jump out of! So it’s a three-for-one deal. All the cuteness of a cake. The convenience of a private jet, or magic carpet if you will. And a lap dance.

ARE YOU GOING TO SEND ME A SAMPLE MATTRESS?? Because that is what I’m asking for here. SOMEONE SEND ME A BED! I mean, I have a bed, but I’d like two maybe, so I can cover one in books. #priorities Please can the mattress be made out of cake too? Midnight snacking options.

I used to get a lot of visitors from Russia, too. I’m not sure if they have a lot of avid readers there, or if it’s something else. (I heard just last night that Russia has the highest number of cyber criminals out of any country. So… yeah, now I’m thinking maybe they weren’t all that interested in what we were reading.)

It’s kind of funny when people accuse you of reading a book wrong and tell you to read it again. It makes me wonder how they even get through a book in the first place because their understanding of logic is obviously very bad. If you don’t like Brussels sprouts, you don’t keep forcing yourself to eat them because someone said you ate them wrong. (Well, okay, maybe this might happen. Moms are really good at trying to get you to retry stuff you didn’t like.)

I like the broken-English spam messages I get sometimes. They don’t count as real comments… but at least they’re entertaining.

I’m like 99% sure our Russian friends are like…robots or something hahahaha. *cries* PITY ISN’T IT. Although why on earth would cyber criminals be reading tiny book blogs? WHO CAN KNOW. But thanks for the pageviews, Russians.

And omg, I know right?! It makes no sense. (Vegetables I am also not fond of, but ahem. I digress.) It just seems stupid that a person would expect everyone to love their favourite book. Not everyone is the same??? I wish humanity would catch on that fact??

OH MY GOSH YOU NEVER FAIL TO MAKE ME LAUGH OUT LOUD LIKE EVERY SINGLE TIME I READ ONE OF YOUR POSTS. <3333 *dries tears* *attempts to act human* HAHAHASDFGHJK IF ANYONE IS GOOD AT CONVINCING SOMEONE THAT THEY ARE FABULOUS IT IS YOU OK. good I'm glad we agree on that moving on… 😉 The Russian readers slayed me. wow like thanks a lot where lies your loyalty huh??? I have a lot of pageviews from Ukraine for some reason??? IT'S REALLY ODD. I DON'T THINK ANY OF THEM COMMENT. I'M LIKE…BROS. SHOW UR FACES. (oh and I'd also like to note that A LOT of my pageviews come from your blog (yes the country that is YOUR FABULOUS BLOG) and I'm just like dang….THANK YOU FOR PUTTING MY BUTTON ON YOUR FAVORITE BLOGS PAGE LIKE I JUST SAW THAT THE OTHER DAY AND PROPERLY FLAILED. <333333333)

I really honestly feel much more comfortable knowing that your bookshelves are properly stocked. Like wow those poor bookshelves must have been cold in 2014. BECAUSE LOL BOOKS = SNUGGLYNESS.

THIS MAKES ME VERY HAPPY. I FEEL LIKE MY GOAL IN LIFE IS COMPLETED EVERY TIME SOMEONE SAYS THEY FIND MY POSTS AMUSING. #winning

Clearly the Ukrainians and the Russians just want to support we bloggers. :’) (Or else they are like spam bot farms or something hahahha. *sobs*) But omg, seriously!? People actually click over to your blog from miiiiine? THIS MAKES ME HAPPY ALSO.😊 And pfft, of course you are on my favourite blogs page. <3 That is just a given.

That poor shelf in 2014 tho. It was so underfed and lonely.

And OF COURSE I slayed you there. I am fire and death remember? Rawr. I'm terrifying.

My bookshelves looked about the same in 2014, apart from I had just three shelves. And they weren’t even full. To say we’ve fixed that problem would be an understatement 😆 Love reading through this! I’ve had some of the polite spam too…but with even weirder links that just makes me shudder to think about to be honest because *EW*.

I used to get a TON of views in China of all places. And when I was brand new, almost all of my views were from the UK. This surprised me because, well, I’m in the US and I posted during what I would have guessed were better times for US readers. Now things have balanced out a bit more 🙂

YES. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!? I have done a lot of book collecting in 2 years.😂 (Most of them are publisher review-copies or library sale bargains though haha. I’m not that rich.)
Ooh, the Chinese for you! The Russians for me! And yet all my interactions were US and I’m in Australia.😂 WHY IS EVERYTHING SO WEIRD ON THE INTERNET.

I’ve done that mixing up bloggers’ names too. *headdesk* It is so embarrassing! And annoying.

I always find it amusing and mildly hypocritical when people have opinions about other people’s opinions. Just what? Disagreeing with someone does not mean it’s the end of the world, nor does it mean it’s the time to go into a 2 page tirade.

Once there was some guy left a comment on my blog. I *think* he was trying to witness to me or something? But the way he phrased it made it sound like he thought he was arguing about something I had said in my post. Even though his comment had nothing in the least to do with my post? *shrugs* Maybe he mixes up bloggers’ names too.

Mixing up bloggers is soooo embarrassing omg. JUST HIDE ME. I generally am really good with not actually mixing anyone up (even though I talk to a heck of a lot of Jens for some reason😂) but when I do I always feel so bad because they’ll think I don’t caaare. AND I DO CARE. Gah. #bookbloggerproblems

Omg that sounds like a completely bizarre kind of commenter. :O I hate when people do that as their first comment. Like there was this blogger I followed AVIDLY for years!! And they never visited my blog back…and then one day they did, and they 100% spent the whole comment disagreeing with me. I never visited their blog after that.😂 I don’t think it’s about being petty, I think it’s about feeling like someone doesn’t even like you hahahaha. HUMANS ARE SO WEIRD.

Hahaha this was hilarious! We actually had huge numbers from Russia a few weeks ago like cosmic and then it just went down to normal, have you figured out what is that about? And I feel you about stopping blogging. I am a co-founder of my blogger and now we added an additional member so it’s three of us now cuz honestly some days I just feel so so not in the mood to write :/ And we actually once were asked to promote antiques store cuz they apparently had some antique books…hahaha

I HAVE NOT. I don’t know what the Russians are dooooing. I feel like maybe they’re robots?!😂

That is really good that you’ve spread the load! I wouldn’t be able to get a co-blogger because I’m a bit of an controlling-freak hahaah omg #dead AHEM. But I also try to write a LOT when I’m in the mood so I can schedule when I’m slumping.

Antiques?!? It’s like they don’t even look at our blogs and see what we blog about, right?!😂

I might be, but it was seriously creepy 😀
I used to have a blog once upon a time (bad experience lol) and with books I just thought it would be better doing it not alone so originally my friend and I started ours but then we started aiming at one post per day every day and I also started sorta side booktube project so it got bit hard to keep up with everything so we thought about adding another member for awhile and then another friend of mine actually reads bit different type of books then us so it ended up being a perfect step for us cuz we decreased work load for us and increased area of the books we talk about #winwin But I know what you mean about control…I am one too, my poor co-bloggers Lol

I know I hate it so much, even with books it is very common that they don’t even look at what we read and review, just massive spam everybody for reviews…:/

I love this post! I have been blogging one way our another for over 12 years now (oh NO I am old) and I admit I am a serial Quitter of Blogs. This my current blog is probably my longest running, precisely because I put no pressure on it and just genuinely ENJOY it.

I LOVED the anecdote about the mattresses, LOL. I LOVE those funny spam messages that are almost english, but not quite.

Ooh just enjoying a blog for the sake of blogging is EXCELLENT. I have only ever had one blog (although I did a name change😜) but I think half the pressure I feel is what I’ve put on myself anyway hahha. I need to just, ahem, chill.😂

LOl, as much as I understand your frustration, I have a confession to make. Sometimes I see people giving crap reviews on a book I happened to love, and although I am not as vocal as some of your readers, I do at least think it, you know… like… YOU TOTALLY DID NOT READ IT RIGHTTTT!!!!

Ehehe… and dude… This Russia thing… back on my old blog, as well as this new one, I have a dedicated reader from Samara… that’s in Russia, right? I’m sure it’s some weird kind of spam that looks very realistic, but who knows… it could be real…

The “no right to have an opinion” is the best!! It’s even worse than “you read it all wroooonngg”…lol fun times though, eh?

BUT NOT EVERYONE IS EVER GOING TO AGREE, MALIHA.😂 Although, I mean, sometimes I *think* that too when someone hates my favourite book hahah, but I don’t go and tell people that. Unless it’s my sister. Then all bets are off because sisters need to be told.

Spam is WEIRD. Sometimes it’s amusing. Sometimes it seems nearly real…once spam said, “Hello Susan it’s been so long!” and I was just… -_- I am not Susan.

A mattress? Okay, I think that one (and your response) is literally the best thing here. I actually haven’t had anything absurd happen to me since I’ve started blogging. I’ve managed to avoid trolls and scandal. I just can’t believe some people and the things they say/write. Great post, Cait. (And by the way, I like your blogging voice.)

Omg avoiding all the trolls and scandal? TEACH ME YOUR WAYS, STEPHANIE.😂 I seem to avoid a lot of the like massive drama moments, but THE TROLLS. They love me. (and by “love” I mean, they hate me.) *shoos them back under their bridge*

I TOO GET POLITE SPAM. It’s actually the greatest. If you have to get spam, this is the kind you want!

The fact you used to be a travel blogger is the most surprising and mind-boggling thing on this list. I’d love to know what your reasoning was. Trying to break out of your shell, maybe?

I still can’t get over how fast / how many books you read but as I get back into the swing of reading regularly, I totally see what you mean that you don’t have to spend all day reading to get through books. It’s all about priorities. And reading fun books, that helps haha

I KNOW RIGHT?! I mean, the English doesn’t make sense half the time, but if someone says I’m awesome and incredible then I’m not knocking it. :’)

Oh oh okay (I should’ve explained this in the post actually hahha) I started my blog because I went to China for a month! And my older sister was all “you should start a blog”. To which I was all “a wut”. SO THAT’S HOW IT BEGAN! I changed to books because I am 1000% obessed with books and not at all obsessed with travel. I find it so stressful.😂

It is about priorities! And squeezing in chapters here and there! Plus audiobooks! And if you read smaller books you can whip through them in just a few hours in the evening. Some people hang out with friends. I read.😂

OMG I FEEL LIKE SUCH AN OLD SOUL BECAUSE I REMEMBER WHEN THE RUSSIANS LOVED YOUR BLOG. 😂😂 (Whatever happened to them, anyways?) And that mattress story is priceless. And your response was gold OMG. And I think I’d hate spam comments even more if they weren’t so darn nice. Thanks for sharing Cait and, as always, fabulous post! <3

YOU ARE AN OLD SOUL. Like in internet-world we’ve known each other for 20000 years I think. *nods* I wonder why the Russians don’t love WordPress though? sheesh, rude of them to leave me. WE COULD’VE BEEN FRIIIIIENDS.😂

I can’t believe people think you live a lazy life. (I hope you have never thought I was implying that?) YOU DO LIKE 900 THINGS A DAY. YOU GO RUNNING AT 5AM. THAT’S PRETTY HARDCORE.

I don’t think I’ve had many weird things happen to me. I just kinda go along quietly and complain about my life too much. I DO think I got an offer to test out and review a lamp once though? I almost considered it because FREE LAMP but then I was like…yeah I don’t want to give you my address.

HAHA NO NO NOT YOU OF COURSE! I’ve basically only had people I don’t know very well tell me that. Which, I mean, there’s the problem right there: you can’t come onto someone’s blog and basically start leaving comments like that when you don’t even know them! It’s just bizarre. (I am actually a huge overachiever hahaha so it’s always kind of funny when people say I’m lazy.😂) 5AM IS THE BEST TIME TO BE AWAKE TBH.

Omg, that is true though…potential creepy people getting our addresses is not fun. Although yay free lamp! 😂

Bahhaah to the converting one.😂 Some people tho…it’s just so random. AND WHAT IS IT WITH THE RUSSIANS??? I’M SO CONFUSED. (Also the people who inform us how much they hate our content just confuse me. Why are they here??? Why don’t they leave?? omg.)

Oh goodness, I don’t understand people that tell you you read a book wrong or you should somehow fix your blog. It’s like…nope. It’s mine, leave me alone. I don’t get these though – maybe once in a blue moon someone will write something a bit negative, but the bigger you get, I guess you get some crazies! Ah well, whatcha gonna do?!

Hehe, I KNOW RIGHT?! Life is weird in the book blogging realm. (I would’ve totally accepted a free bed had it been offered though…😂)

Aww thankyou for the nice words about my blogging voice! YOU ARE SuPER KIND. I think it’s bizarre that someone would say that, because why read my blog if they hate it? Like no loss to me if they don’t want to read, sheesh.😂

You’re welcome for being like, the only Shannon out there. Actually, thank my parents, they’re the ones who came up with the stupid thing. (I have totally done that too, confusing bloggers. Ask Holly! Before we became besties, I used to confuse her ALL THE TIME with some other blogger, who is not at ALL my bestie and I don’t think blogs anymore?)

Also, who doesn’t like your voice? (I mean, asshats, of course is the correct answer.) That is just rude either way. Also, did you review the mattress? I think you should have. Or at the very least, told them to call me. I do most of my reading in bed, so frankly, I think it could work. And I am not entirely convinced that those mega bloggers aren’t in cahoots with the dark side. HEY maybe now you are one of them, and you’re trying to make us believe it isn’t a “thing”. It’s like on The 100, and you’ve been chipped and are in the City of Light. And we’re just trying to deactivate you. (Just watch the show, okay? I promise, your life would be better- or maybe worse because you wouldn;t function anymore, but shhh).

Goodreads trolls are so silly. They make me laugh. SOmeone argued with me in such a manner a few weeks ago, but I just let them, because I feel like they obtain nourishment from acting like assholes on Goodreads so… let them feed, I guess, amirite? (Plus, I felt like that’s a sign that you’ve “made it” 😂)

Hearing that you have want to quit makes me feel TONS better about the fact that I have wanted to quit. And not just like “ugh, I am tired today, let’s quit”, like actually thought about it FOR REAL. (This is mostly lately, too, so it’s kind of opportune for you to mention.)

Polite spam IS the best spam. Because of COURSE I want to have my shady pills with a side of niceness! I too have tried to plagiarize myself- I often do a search of my own blog before I write something, and HAVE in fact found that I have already done posts. Oops? And I started off with some kind of hybrid mom/personal/random blog, so I feel you 😀

AHAH NO I KNOW 2 OTHER SHANNONS ON THE INTERNET, SORRY. You’re not special. *pats your shoulder* There are an awful lot of Jen/Jennifers out there though and I live in dread of mixing them up. Basically I refer to everyone with their blog. So I don’t think “oh this is Shannon commenting” I think “Oh this is Shannonitstartsatmidnight commenting”. Because sensible. Your name is actually very long.

I did NOT review the mattress since they rudely did not give me one. Sheesh. I could’ve used a new bed. I could actually HAVE a bed to sleep in instead of fighting for mattress space with my dog.

Sometimes just ignoring the goodreads trolls is the best way to be, right?!😂 They just need to go…chill. Omg.

And YES. I think we all want to quit at times! ALTHOUGH I WOULD DIE IF YOU QUIT, SHANNON, I LOVE YOUR BLOG TOO MUCH. <3

I love love love LOVE this post so much. SO many weird things happen to us book bloggers, and it’s time to TALK about these ahah. I can definitely relate to the spam comments, it happens to me as well, and I’m always like “thank you, you are very nice, but no I don’t want to check out your website about how to gain more followers and whatever”. And I laughed SO hard at that email you got, ahah. They are right about the bed being the best place to read your book, but… why would they think you’d write about them on your website? It’s just plain weird, at times. And that comment about your voice, it’s just, bad and cruel. It makes me so mad sometimes how people feel free to be mean, just like that, I mean, if you don’t like a blog or someone’s voice, just leave. That’s all we are asking. FANTASTIC post, Cait! 🙂

Eeeep, thankyou Marie! *flails happily* It was such a random post to do BUT I’M GLAD EVERYBODY REALLY HAS LIKED IT!! And omg spam is just bizarre. I wonder if people actually click on those entirely sketchy links???? Spam needs to get a life clearly. (Although I literally just had one that told me how much they loved cake. So. Clearly they’re listening to me…)

This post made me laugh so hard! I can’t believe they asked you to promote a mattress on your book blog haha – your response was gold! XD I haven’t actually had that many weird things happen to me in the time I’ve been blogging *touches wood* except get hilarious spam comments. Also, I can’t believe people have emailed you and told you they don’t like the way you blog – THAT’S SO MEAN, they must be deluded pineapples!

What a hilarious post! Two months of blogging hasn’t left me with any out of the ordinary stories yet but I honestly look forward to it. Loved the mattress story, how random. My dad has a running website and he gets quite a few spam emails and people asking if he wants to promote the most absurd things, one of my favourites was a small makeup brand who were asking my middle aged father to promote makeup on his running website.

HAHA. this is awesome. I’ve definitely wanted to quit blogging about a dozen times now, and mixed up blogger names, it’s awkward and i always end up sending a five foot long apology where the cringe is strong… *sigh*

BAHAHAHAH TO YOUR NAME SECTION.😂 I would recognise your name anyway, don’t worry. 😉 You are the only Safah I know! I know at least 8001 “Jens” though. Love ’em all but I live in terror of mixing them up.😂

Cait I seriously found myself nodding along to your post, including getting blogger’s names wrong (and it’s SO embarrassing), getting those weird spam links and of course, getting told that my opinion is wrong and I clearly did not get the book. I mean come on people, why do you have to be so rude? I once got a promo email to promote this carbonated coffee and I was like ???!! should I take a swig out of it in the middle of my youtube video or what?!

I knooooow right?!? I don’t understand people AT ALL. Why do they get so defensive over books anyway? It’s bizarre. We aren’t a hive mind, omg. *smacks trolls in the head with a paperback*
I don’t get the people who ask bloggers/booktubers to promote stuff. Like WHY?!? They never say it’s a paid thing so why would we do stuff for free? I DON’T GET IT.

It’s kind of nice to hear other bloggers have at least once wanted to set their blogs on fire and roast marshmellows over the flames (like a normal person)… Ibecause I definitely have. Generally I REALLY like book blogging, so I’m not 100% sure where the sudden and very random desire to move to an isolated town in the mountains and become a sheepherder with no internet or something comes from… it just does.

You are soooo not alone, Kelly! I think we all kind of want to burn down our blogs at some point?!?😂 But omg sometimes the trolls that one encounters around book blogging just make me wonder why I even bother. BUT WE LOVE IT BECAUSE BOOKS. (Although a sheepherder in the mountains has appeal somedays too…)

OMG this is hilarious! I love how you make absurd stuff so freaking funny! I get emails to promote random stuff like wedding dresses. Um no thank you? Do I look like a wedding blog? A mattress is so random! I’ve gotten emails where people compliment my blog and then tell me I do things wrong. Like what? I just laugh and delete it.
~Sara

omg I know right?! I keep wanting to email back and go “have you actually looked at my blog content at all?” 😂 I usually just ask them if there’s money involved and that scares them off. But HEY. I want to get paid!! Any other kind of blogger would be paid!!

This is hilarious Cait! I just can’t believe that they weren’t will to send you a mattress to test out and promote. I mean really, they missed out on a golden opportunity with you. Also A+ for the polite spammers. If you’re going to bug someone, at least do it nicely, right?!? XD

Also, so glad you fixed your bookshelf! It’s an inspiration to see. And just ugh to rude people. Ugh. And then ignore them and go eat copious amounts of cake and DON’T SHARE ANY WITH THEM. That’s what I would do, anyways. It is the oddities that make life so interesting, though, so I suppose in the end we should all be thankful for getting a good laugh out of them. XD

These are at once hilarious and depressing.
Especially the “you read it wrong” and the “you’re not entitled to your opinion” ones drive me nuts. Especially as you don’t strike me as the kind of person that will express her opinion in a hurtful/rude manner.
You do you darling! xxx

THEY ARE. 😂 I mean, at least people keep it interesting for me, right?!? hahaha #dead But after a while Ive just gotten used to the “you’re wrong” tantrums some commenters throw and I just ignore them. Life is too short to care what everyone thinks!

Reading this has made me feel envious that you have already learned all of these lessons that I have yet to learn (along with all of those of my own) and that I have a long word ahead of me. I must say though, you have made this journey look amazingly fun!

I love this post, especially the plagiarising yourself point! I have gone to do that a couple of times with discussion posts. I think I’m being an utter genius with a post topic and start writing… and then think I’ve had this thought before but write it off as me making that point in a comment at some point… and then typed a few more words and start thinking of a post title and then realise I have most definitely written this before. I then have to trawl through my old posts to remind myself when I wrote it. I’ve even gone to write a post and realised I am writing the opposite side of a point I made last year. You can’t argue with youself on a discussion it makes you sound crazy!

I do have to say those are some crazy sounding commenters you have, though. And some weird people emailing. It makes it interesting, though. Imagine if you did get a free bed!

I know how you feel about reading a lot, though. I have actually decreased my reading lately because I’ve remembered that I used to have interests outside of books (crazy, I know, I’m sure it’s a phase I will probably get over… maybe… it’s hard TV just sucks me right in). I’ve even been doing something crazy such as leaving the house and being social which really does eat your spare time. I am a massive recluse most of the time and it’s the only way I manage to read more than a couple of books a week and still keep blogging, whenever I am social and see lots of friends I read about one book and feel like crying but it turns out friends can get offended if you keep putting off seeing them because you’re reading a really good book (which is rude, really, and they won’t even let me bring it with me and ignore them in favour of a book. I seriously need nicer friends).

At least you realise before finishing the post! I’ve written AN ENTIRE POST and had it scheduled only to have the bright idea that maybe it was a bit similar to something else? Well I’d nearly word-for-word copied myself hahahha. Ahem. *cries* It was such a pretty post too omg and then I didn’t know WHAT to blog about after that. (I’m sure no one would’ve noticed thougH?😂)

People get weirder in the comments the bigger the blog gets, I’ve noticed. It’s a bit sad! It’s like they think a big blog = a heartless blogger? I’m sensitive, peoples. *sniffles* 😂

No shame in doing other stuff than reading. hehe. I have SO many TV shows I wish I had time to watch. Gahhh. Maybe I will eventually?! I DON’T KNOW. I READ A LOT.😂 But seriously books > socialising. Every time.

I don’t even proof-read my blog posts so can I be co-Typo Queen? Though usually my sister helpfully points them out to me.

BUT OMG why didn’t you promote the mattress? That would have been hilarious. And a great story to tell people as well.

Okay but people are so mean???? Like if you’re going to tell someone you hate their blogging voice, at least a compliment first, geez. Maybe a nice offering of cake. You know? Did their mothers not teach them manners??

Yes we can be co-typo-queens together. I at least proof. 😂 But that’s because my posts are like 1,000+ words these days. HELP ME, EMILY, I’M SO LONG WINDED.
And I’m not promoting any mattresses uNLESS THEY GIVE ME ONE. *stamps foot* I’m so disappointed they didn’t give me one.
And dude, omg, I know. I don’t get the “hate your blogging voice” one because if you don’t like a blog why are you reading it???? WHY???

This is hilarious! I especially love the mattress one. I mean, if they were prepared to send a mattress, I’d probably promote it, but with no mattress offer? Why??

I don’t think I’ve been blogging long enough for anything funny to have happened to me yet, but I’ll look forward to eventually having people tell me that I’m wrong, I guess?? One of my posts had a bunch of views in Italy at some point, but that’s about it.

EXACTLY. I’m not saying no to a bed. (But why do these companies want me to work for them for no gain for me?? Like I don’t get it? I’m not an idiot and I’m not going to say yes!)
I’m sure it’s like mark of “making it” as a book blogger to be told your opinion is wrong.😂 HAHAH. Ahem. Actually I hope it doesn’t happen to you and you become a mega-famous-wonderful book blogger that everyone is kind to!!

Speaking of Raven Boys…. AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH I JUST FINISHED THE FIRST BOOK IN THE RAVEN CYCLE. At first, I was honestly really confused, but the last 200 pages, I literally could not stop. :p So yeah. I’m a fan too <3

Also, I DON'T REALLY WATCH MOVIES OR TV EITHER. I kinda want to because I feel like there are a lot of good ones, but if I have free time, I'm usually either listening to music, reading… or doing blog-related things, actually.

AFJDSALD THE RAVEN BOYS IS BEAUTIFUL AND WONDERFUL. And I’ll be super irritating and say it gets even BETTER with re-reading. <33 Seriously I'm so in love with that series I CANNOT EVEN.
I really want to watch movies/TV but like tiiiime. I would not get all the reading done I do get done if I was a TV-watcher. *sad noises*

I haven’t been blogging long enough to grow such a list of oddities. Lol. But that mattress story was hilarious. 😂😂😂 Also people pointing out your errors, or how your opinion is invalid or wrong are such trolls. But with any job you love you’ll experience a bit of bad but enjoy all the good. I wish I was a full-time blogger. That’s so awesome. I hope you plan to write about being a full-time blogger unless you did already than I’m so sorry. Again, noob here. 🙈

We must just ignore the trolls, right?! THEY ARE NOT WORTH OUR TIME HUZZAH.😂 Also I would’ve totally taken a new bed in exchange for a blog post. Pity they didn’t get back to me hahha…ahem.
You’re not a noob! I don’t actually consider myself a full-time blogger so I’ve not written about it. 🙂 I don’t get paid to blog or anything so it’s just a hobby.

Polite spams are nice LOL I get them to from time to time.
Also, I am curious about pageviews-from-Russia mystery because I am experiencing the same phenomenon! And iI dont get it. But I am not complaining.

Sounds like you’ve been having quite the adventure, intriguing about Russia though (i don’t think that I have a particular country’s interest) but good for you, maybe it’s all the reviews of books involving Russian fairy-tales? Maybe they’re particularly fond of the way you call everyone a pineapple 🙂 I completely agree with you on the minority book review problem, we’re all going to have different opinions and value different aspects of the same book, but that doesn’t mean you’re opinion is wrong. Keep up the awesome work (i have no idea how you do it)

I’m not gonna lie, but I totally laughed out loud when you said that you plagiarised yourself xD Only you would do that, Cait. Only do.

And ugh, I have had people who tell me that I have no right to an opinion just because I’m not a part of them. Like, I reviewed this LGBT book and it was bad. There was nothing wrong with the topic, but the way the author portrayed it was not sitting well with me, and someone actually wrote me a long comment, stating that I had no right to say that because I am not part of the LGBT community whut.

I KNOW. ISN’T IT TERRIBLE?!?😂 That is my blogging legacy: plagiarizing myself.

YES, I’ve had that exact thing with an lgbt book. It’s horrible and it’s so narrow minded of people to assume that you have to, like, have “rights” to have an opinion. Gah. I’ve read an lgbt book that was just plain badly written with an irritating narrator, like I don’t care about their sexuality at this point — I am going to rate a book badly if it’s badly written in my opinion!! Books don’t get amazing ratings purely because they are diverse.

Wow. Someone asked you to promote mattresses? Really? XD That’s weird. I’ve been asked to promote books or teas, but at least that’s relevant to my blog. I’ve also gotten sketchy spam comments. It’s like, “Yeah not clicking on that site unless I want a whopper virus on my PC. No thank you.”

Also random, but I sent you an email. I know you have a lot of stuff to respond to, but I thought I’d say something.

Loved this. It almost makes we wish I was actually a book blogger instead of an unpublished author blogger. Or am I just wishing I was famous so weird things would happen to me.
I agree that you can read a lot and still get other thing done. Especially if you’re a super speedy reader. Though then you don’t see plot twist happen or notice important details.
Despite having a very small audience I may have gotten confused by who commented once. It happens. I too wish all names were unique. (So why did I call myself Anna?)
You have every right to have an opinion and don’t re-read a book you hate. In fact don’t re-read books at all. I had a friend change from giving 5 stars to only 2 on one of my favourite books, because the main character annoyed her the second time.

The weird things will come, just you wait.😂 Sometimes it’s amusing, but soooome of these I could live without hahha. Ahem. And YES! It’s very possible to read fast (and read smaller books, I guess too?) and still live a very busy life! I DO. I think people should hush before they judge.

Names are so hard omg. I’m horrible with names IRL too, though. I keep forgetting the name of my sister’s child. YES. My own niece. So that doesn’t give me much confidence online tbh. (I try to link people to their blogs though, so I always remember them.😂 It works!)

I don’t think I have had too many odd moments in book blogging yet but then only started this year so I’m sure they will come. I do find my mouth dropping at the number of followers some people have. It sometimes seem so crazy. I have this tiny dream that I can get there one day though I keep in mind the main reason I started blogging. Also I love your blogging voice. It always keeps me engaged the whole post through no matter what it is about. I’ve started collected the links to all my posts on a google docs. I find it helpful though I do forget and then it can be a slight pain, but I imagine you would have had many posts by now and who knows (yeah don’t know where I’m really going with this sentence). If you ever quit blogging you would be thoroughly missed. I can hardly believe or rather imagine that you started off as a travel blogger.

Though I have to say you are probably one of my inspirations for finally getting my but moving and starting my blog properly (I’ve started blogs a few times but I forgot that when I created Jumbled Thoughts). Albeit those were without proper planning.

Oh oh you keep that dream of more followers! THAT WAS LITERALLY ME WHEN I STARTED. I honestly thought it’d be impossible to get 1,000.😂 So it happens, I promise!

I think I have like 1,500 posts or something?? Which is ridiculous, omg. I don’t even remember what I posted about last week let alone 2 years ago. I’m doooomed. (But good thing is, hopefully no one else will notice if I repeat myself hahah.)

I don’t even know where to start because there’s so much greatness in this post, hahaha. I love the mattress one and their reasoning behind it. Heck, I just might promote a mattress if they sent me a free bed 😛 And yes, spam is so funny. I just shared one in my weekly update because it was so absurd and didn’t even promote anything? I’ve not had the other things happen, but your descriptions of them cracked me up nonetheless!

Also, if it makes you feel any better, I have posts from *this year* that I don’t even remember writing. It’s very disconcerting to have a post on your blog and have zero memory of writing it or discussing it in all the comments o.0

Bwahaha, that mattress company gets brownie points for trying. They tried so hard.

Isn’t that the worst when you think you have a brilliant idea and then you realize, “Oh wait, someone already did that. OH YEAH AND THAT PERSON WAS ME.”

*le gasp* You DNF-ed The Raven Boys?! I can’t even imagine you doing that. Who are you, Cait?!

I can’t believe you managed to keep your bookshelf so sparse at first. xD As soon as my shelf went up in my room I was stacking books on top of books and causing the shelves to bow in the middle. To avoid it breaking I now have books under my chair and under my bed and probably under my mattress, too, but I haven’t checked there in a while . . .

THEY DID TRY HARD. But not hard enough or else I’d be reclining right now on a new mattress, sheesh.

And yes, omg, it’s the worst when I had a better idea than myself. Like #rude I can’t blog about anything these days without wondering if I already did. (Although maybe no one would notice?? And I could get away with it?? Mwhahah)

I KNOW. ISN’T IT BIZARRE?!? I read like 1 chapter.😂 I don’t even know myself. I think my rabid fangirl status makes up for it now though??

I DIDN’T OWN A LOT OF BOOKS BACK IN 2014!! I was only just starting off as a book reviewer. Now look at me, omg. I’m a regular little packrat and have no regrets.

I would be kinda flattered if I got emails from people wanting me to promote their stuff??? Because it would make me feel influential and famous, I suppose. But I get that it would be annoying once it actually started happening.

Haha, yeah, this German professor from some tiny country I’ve never heard of is into my blog – I have NO IDEA WHY.

Aww… You don’t like traveling??? I LOVE IT BUT DONT DO IT.

Haha, I thought of you as one of those “big bloggers” and was so intimidated (and rightly so, I suppose☺) when I first started following you. I had never met anyone with so many followers before!!!

I know this comment is the length of a short novel, but I MUST shriek about how much I adore your bookshelf (empty OR full☺)!!! I don’t have one – tho I would desperately love one – and even if I did I wouldn’t be able to come anywhere close to filling it as much as you did in your earlier photo!!!

omg nooooo don't be intimidated by me! Well, I guess you know the truth now: I am just an adorkable oddball. AND NO REGRETS. *flails about* I don't even know how I have so many followers half the time omg. I'm so weird.😂

Girl I totally get you with the typos, they’ve haunted me all my life. I’m pretty sure I’ve give my mother and English teach heart attacks over them countless times.
Yes, that make me so angry when someone tells me to reread a book I hated. No, not doing it. I hated that book for a reason, leave me alone.
Your bookshelf is beautiful by the way. Why can everyone have a stunning rainbow bookshelf except me??

YES EXACTLY. Like why would we torture ourselves again?!? It’s absolutely ridiculous. Not all books are going to work for everyone. Books are subjective.😭😂
Aww, thankyou! It took me a while to be able to do the full rainbow as you can see, hehe, but so so worth it!

Man this post is awesome. I totally think that bloggers with huge followings have sold their souls or something and not because I’m judgy, I just really wanna know where you get these things done. And if anything that bookshelf is the biggest achievement.

I love this haha. Some of these stories are downright hilarious, though others rude. HOW CAN YOU READ A BOOK WRONG? Just because someone doesn’t agree with you, doesn’t mean they’re ‘wrong’ jeez people. I always wonder why people would actually take the time to write a rude comment :/ AND YOUR OLD SHELVES WERE SO EMPTY. You made a great improvement though *nods*

YUP BASICALLY.😂 It’s good just to laugh at the rude ones though, right?! I kind of get befuddled when I meet people who don’t understand not everyone is going to like the same books. Like whaaaa!?? People are different. Books are subjective. OMG SOMEONE GIVE ME ALL CAKE I NEED TO HANDLE THIS.😂
The bookshelf is much better fixed.

I am so happy I found your blog – I absolutely love it! Some of these things you have experienced… is it to clické to say I literally laughed out loud? You read a book wrong? That’s a quotable. As a one week old blogger – this just seems like insanity to me. Looking forward to keep following you.

That last point made me laugh out loud. “I have a schedule for evil. Fridays to Mondays, 6am to 11am so I can knock off for lunch. #priorities” I read the whole point to my 11-year-old brother because he heard me laughing and he was like, “Okay… I don’t really know what to say to that.” And I just kept laughing.

Those are the most fabulous paper flowers in the bottom picture. May I ask where you learned how to do them, and whether or not the instructions are available online? My soon-to-be-sister-in-law wants her wedding bouquet to be made of paper flowers made from type-written pages of her favorite novels. I’m looking for new ideas! 🙂

Someone once asked me to review medicine. Yes, of course I will take and review your random medicine for no reason at all. Also, gardening books. This was greatly hilarious, because I don’t have a garden, green thumb, or any sort of passion for it. I also sometimes amuse myself reading the spam comments haha

Another absurd thing is that I blog every day, but somehow all the posts disappear into the void and I end up only posting once or twive a month. Weird, hahahaha. Haha. Ha. Oops.

That is the point though right?!? “I will help you out for no reason at all” < -- I MEAN WHYYYYY?!?!? WHY WOULD WE DO THAT!?? (I am clearly a Slytherin ahem, okay? But my #1 question is always: what's in it for me.😂) But spam is amusing for sure. Especially when it compliments me. How nice. I'm not knocking a compliment, even if it's a robot. :')

Those spam bots are the politest things ever. 😛 I had one advertising coffee. THEY KNOW ME TOO WELL, CAIT.

Ugh, people who treat other people like dirt for liking/disliking a book and thus having a differing opinion are so awful. Like, I believe in being kind to people and understanding others and not judging, but even so, I can’t stand trolls. It’s like, there’s a line between what I will tolerate and what I won’t, and the trolls are so far back behind that line I can barely see them.

I actually originally DNFed Shiver. *hangs head* It was under similar circumstances though, and it was during a time when I was all or nothing, and I didn’t have time to read the entire trilogy, so I put it aside for later. Then I got distracted with other Stiefvater books, and I’m just now getting back to Shiver. (Also, fun fact, I just found out a few weeks ago that I live about forty-five minutes away from Maggie. :D)

THE RUSSIANS LOVE ME TOO. They’re my third most frequent visitors when it comes to countries. I don’t even understand why. Ukraine comes right after. Like, they won’t show up for a while, and then suddenly I’ll get 100 Russian page views in the space of a minute or two. They really seem to like my archives though. 😛

You’re totally allowed to plagiarize yourself. I’ve been tempted to reprise myself, but I think I’ll at least wait until I’ve blogged a few more years before reframing something I’ve said previously. Since not everyone reads my archives or has been around since day one, I think it’s fair. *nods* *hides*

Trolls are just the worst because they’re so immature. Like WHO EVEN CARES if one person likes a book and one doesn’t? It’s also not going to change minds if someone starts hating on someone else. *facepalm*

NO JUDGEMENT FROM ME. 😂 I clearly have my shameful Stiefvater-past oh dear. (But omg so you clearly live in the part of the world were epic amazing authors live?!? LIZ. THERE’S SOMETHING IN THE AIR. YOU’RE GOING TO BE A MARVELLOUS FAMOUS AUTHOR SOMEDAY VERY SOON. #legit)

Yes, I figure even if I did plagiarise myself … who would notice??! Hopefully no one because I have an upcoming post that I’ve basically written twice. #whoops

I’ve been asked to review the weirdest things too! Never a mattress, but most recently, a company keeps trying to get me to review their sunglasses XD Ah, spam. It always makes me laugh. I’d actually love to be a traveling book blogger… if it paid, of course. How else would I afford the travel? LOL

Ahhh, so annoying right?!? I’m so over it.😝 I mean, even if they were offering to send the stuff, I still wouldn’t e keen, because I’M A BOOK BLOG. *howls* Now if a bookshop asked me to advertise them and were giving me books…that I would say yes to.😂

I’ve not been asked to review a mattress (I would totally take a free mattress through…) but I have gotten a bunch of pitches asking me to promote random stuff, for no payment. Um, yeah, I do write reviews on own my blog for my own enjoyment, but I don’t write about somebody else’s product with their images and promotion dates for free. Ugh.

“I ORIGINALLY DNF’ED THE RAVEN BOYS.” I have suddenly found myself in an alternate version of the world and am lost and confused. I’m shocked. But with your reasons, I can see it.

“What would I do without it???? Go outdoors? Socialise?? ugh.” Sometimes I want to quit blogging too. But then I think about this. What would I do with my time? I bet I could double the number of books I read for sure though.

I love reading your posts – you’re too funny! (in the best way, I promise). The one that surprised yet didn’t surprise me was the one about how some people tell you to re-read a book because you read it wrong? HILARIOUS. lol I don’t have many readers on my blog, but I’d get a kick out of those if I got them haha there are plenty of books that I haven’t liked.

I once got an email asking if I could interview the main actress in a popular webseries, which I did and it was AWESOME but then they never linked to my post on their website. urgh. Also got asked to talk about finances and 401k planning with this company and I said no bc my readers are like… 16. (She replied, “No time to start planning for your future like the present!!!” I didn’t reply.) I also just got asked to promote a card company with a list of Christmas prep things I do… which I may or may not do. What can I say, they have thousands of Insta and Twitter followers so they’d boost my readership. It’d be cool.

Anyway, I’m not a book blogger, but I have turned down book tours and reviews bc I don’t want my blog to be associated with subpar self-published books. Sue me, but if your cover doesn’t look good, I don’t want people to think I read cheesy books all the time. SUE ME.

But promoting a mattress??? WHAT??????? I do approve of your asking them to send you one. *applause*

oh and i dnf’d The Raven Boys initially, too. got through eight(ish) pages, went “nOPE” and returned it. then i got it again a few months later and read the whole thing but i didn’t love it. please don’t kill me. XD i just don’t go for paranormal/spiritual-world stuff. 😛

OH WOW. You have been asked to promote a lot of stuff!!😂 Whenever I get asked these days I email back and say “and is this a post you’re willing to pay for?” and they never answer. But c’mon now, I’m asking fair things!! I could use the money…😂 Ahem.

And ah, yes, it’s hard for self-pubbed requests. I have a blanket “no” now because I hate saying no and I’m not saying yes.😂

Yeah, I forgot how much I’d been asked to do ’til you did this post. Which is hilarious bc my blog doesn’t even get that many pageviews. XD Ooh I should’ve done that with the card company. DANG IT. Oh, well. I was gonna write a post like that anyway.

THANK YOU. I just ??? don’t want crappy book covers and mediocre writing on my blog ??? Obvs I look into it a little sometimes but I also TOTALLY judge a book by its cover and I’M SORRY but best foot forward does not mean a book cover you made in Paint on your day off. XD